POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County arrested more than a dozen men in a child predator sting -- including a Florida man known in the community as Santa Claus.
“There’s this fella called Santa Claus -- and we arrested Santa Claus,” authorities said.
The arrest is raising alarm, with officials calling it a shocking case.
“Thousands and thousands of children have sat on this guy’s lap thinking he was Santa Claus -- but what he was, was a child sex predator,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Investigators identified the suspect as Thomas Allen Hicks.
They say the 68-year-old portrayed Santa Claus at major community events, including Lakeland’s Christmas parade for the past three years -- becoming a familiar face to families across the area.
He also made several appearances at local schools and was described as well regarded in the community.
According to detectives, Hicks believed he was arranging to have sex with a 13-year-old girl after responding to an online ad as part of an undercover operation.
Authorities say he was actually communicating with an undercover deputy.
Deputies say Hicks agreed to pay $200 and later drove to a meeting location in Lakeland, where he was taken into custody.
He was not alone.
In total, 19 suspects were arrested in the operation.
According to the sheriff, Hicks told detectives he has been married for more than 50 years but regularly checked adult websites looking for prostitutes or companions.
He is now facing several charges, including human trafficking and traveling to meet a minor.
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